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A building which dates back to 1920 could be turned into flats under plans submitted to Southend Council.

The planning application seeks to transform the building known as ‘The Bakery’ on the corner of Milton Road and London Road in Westcliff into four flats.

It was originally built in 1920 as a grain store but has since had several other businesses take up leases. The latest was an electrical firm which moved out in 2000, leaving it empty.

It has now been up for let for the past four years and applicant Roger Essex explained in planning documents it has been unused for a long period because other applications aimed at keeping it as an industrial building have been turned down due to the potential noise impact.

His plans would have the interior of the building converted to contain three two-bedroom flats and one one-bedroom flat.

Each flat would have access to a parking space.

Mr Essex said: “The philosophy of this planning application is made with the thought that loss of employment has already occurred over the last 15 years and we are seeking to resurrect a very sound and stolid building back to full use, including the surrounding area.”

But Councillor Martin Terry (Ind) said the plans could face opposition from the community due to the area already being overdeveloped.

He said: “The density levels of this specific area are very high. Some parts of Westcliff already have some of the highest densities of people in the whole of the UK.